Social Media Ban for Children Is a Step Backward for Australia
From Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, November 19, 2024
As jurisdictions around the world grapple with how to protect children from potential online harms, the Australian government announced on November 8, 2024, its intention to introduce legislation this year banning users under 16 from social media platforms. As is the case with similar legislation at the state level in the United States, blocking an entire age group from social media is the equivalent of using a regulatory sledgehammer instead of a scalpel to address complex and evolving online safety issues. This approach fails to consider the benefits of social media for young people and the pitfalls of online age verification requirements.
